K&N air filter (in airbox) Are they worth it?
 

Views on the in-airbox K&N's, please:

1. They are washable, so can be reused. But how many times?
2. Are about 4x the cost.
3. I've heard that the oil from them can affect the sensors in the induction/ exhaust.
4. Marginally better performance.

Are they worth it?

They will last the lifetime of the car, so you'll never need replace it.:cool: Cost effective? Depends on how often you change the car:D
Performance? slightly better breathing but you're not going to make 50bhp:D

I have an airbox one & an open induction, love them both:cool:

no :)


for one thing cleaning them is a pain in the bum, then you have to re-oil them so it's just easier (and actually cheaper) to buy a normal one every year.



The airbox ones make no difference in performance either and if it's a diesel it will possibly contaminate your £160 MAF

Banana has had her flat K&N filter for the last 6 years.

Had a K&N in my diesel ZTT’s air box for nearly 7 years now with no effect on the MAF whatsoever. It’s when people over oil them that causes issues.
Cleaning is easy, do mine once a year. It’s the first job I do when servicing, gives it chance to dry, just give it a blow with the compressor to make sure before I oil it.

So, over the 7 years I’d have used 7 genuine standard air filters at around £12 each......£84

The K&N cost me £39.99 and I’ve used half of my second cleaning kit at £10 each.......£15.

So, in seven years, it’s cost me £55 with the K&N opposed to £84 for gen standard filters :}

You also get a couple of cool stickers with them too :D :drool4:

So you save £5 a year for no measurable benefit? :)


and you still have to mess about with it rather than just drop a new one in....


Obviously the stickers are cool! Cool kids have Pipercross ones but K&N are old skool kool.

All nonsense if you have a standard airbox :)

Had a few performance filters over the years and to be honest, I'm sure that any performance gain was all in my head. To actually feel a difference your going to need and extra 10 bhp minimum and that just isn't going to happen on a car in standard tune. For a modified engine they could be worthwhile.

Really can't be bothered anymore especially on my diesel, rather have the superior filtration of a standard filter even if it does cost more in the long run.

:shrug: why would we judge any real world performance benefit in "Peak" bhp figures ?


from my experience - the Car breathes a lot better with a K&N panel filter :cool: jobs a Good Un :D

throttle response IS better - maybe not Huge Measurable Gains - but Noticeable
enough to be worth fitting (IMO)

Sounds Good too :cool:

Paul.

I had to get the Professionals in for a wasps' nest recently - I was Building a storage Unit (ok a Shed :D) for a local Hotel - while removing Timber from the existing container I was stung a few times on the Ear - not a Nice sound when a wasp is buzzing in your ear while stinging :getmecoat: there were too many wasps and I didn't want to upset them any more and risk a Guest being swarmed. I've heard them chewing a wooden fence panel and was surprised to find it was a Wasp making such a loud noise too.


r.e K&N - I've recently stripped the top of my Engine (possible repairs still on the Cards) so i Have the K&N filter in the Shed - I'll maybe check later when it was fitted and take a photo showing current condition - I haven't cleaned it since fitting.

r.e Performance Benefits - I'm sure in the 1.8t and the Diesels(?) there should be No "Peak" Power benefits - as you won't get higher boost pressures than the ECBS or Wastegate allows :shrug:

I'd be interested to see any difference in the Power Curve up to "Peak" (around 5500rpm on a K-series?) with a paper vs K&N filter. - you don't get higher Boost pressure, but if you reach peak Boost sooner would it affect a Dyno Graph read out ?

that's just out of curiosity tho ;) I don't drive my Car on a Dyno - in the Real World I KNOW the Car responds Better with a K&N :D

and there are No concerns of clogged sensors - with a 1.8t at least



Paul.